A Wilkinsburg mother has been jailed on child endangerment charges after police said her 9-year-old son with autism and her 2-year-old daughter were found wandering overnight near a gas station on Penn Avenue.

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Police said Pupoolah Billings, 37, told officers her 15-year-old child was supposed to be watching the kids, but when police went to her home, they discovered the older child was only 11 and had also been left alone with a 6-year-old.

Police said a motorist called police about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when the first two children were seen wandering. Police said Billings gave them various stories about how the children were being cared for, but none were true.

"Who in the heck would leave their kid, knowing that someone was not going to be there? And especially at that time of night?" said Wilkinsburg Police Chief Ophelia Coleman. "Because nothing is that important that you leave young people and babies, literally, at home by themselves."

Neighbors told Channel 4 Action News' Amber Nicotra it was only a matter of time before something happened.

"I hope and pray they find a safe place for those children," said neighbor Shelly Rochez.

Billings faces a preliminary hearing March 29 on four counts of endangering the welfare of children.

Police said they may also charge her 19-year-old daughter, who told Billings she was leaving at midnight.

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